Brooks: ‘It Was Not A Hard Decision To Play For The USA’

NewsAug 14, 2013

ussoccer.com: How is your first U.S. MNT camp going so far?
JB: “So far everything is fine. My new teammates and the staff have been very nice to me so everything is perfect.”

ussoccer.com: You played for the U-20 MNT and have also been courted by Germany.
What went into your decision to play for the United States?
JB: “The U.S. really wanted me, so it was not a hard decision to play for the USA. I talked a lot to my family. My dad, who is from Chicago, my mom, my
sister, my grandparents, my agent … all of them gave me advice. Since I decided to play for the U.S., they have been very happy, congratulating me and
wishing good luck.”

ussoccer.com: For those U.S. Soccer fans who haven’t seen you play yet, how would you describe your game?
JB: “I think I am calm on the ball. I have good passing skills. And I am not as slow as I seem [laughs]. I don’t have that much experience yet as it’s my
first year in the Bundesliga, so I have to learn a lot. I will learn when I am with the U.S. team and I will learn from Hertha and put those experiences
together.”

ussoccer.com: It’s setting up to be a big week for you. You first make your Bundesliga debut and score the eventual game-winning goal, and now you may
make your MNT debut. What are your feelings as you accomplish another goal in your career?
JB: “I just take it step by step. The next step is to play here against Bosnia. When I play, I want to give my best and go from there.”

ussoccer.com:
:
What is it like for you as a German-American to play for Jurgen Klinsmann, who accomplished so much during his career and is so respected in Germany?
JB: “It’s nice. He has lots of experience and has brought a little bit of German football over here into the team, so it’s exciting for me.”

ussoccer.com:
What is it like to have the other German-Americans in the team?
JB: “It is nice having Jermaine [Jones], Fabian [Johnson] and Danny Williams so I can talk a little bit of German with them [laughs]. We can also talk
about the Bundesliga, the U.S., and they can give me little clues. That’s good for me.”